1. Introduction to InVEST ArcGIS Tool
Nasser Olwero
GMP, Bangkok April

2. Background of tool design
Why a tool/ArcGIS Tool?

3. ArcGIS Geoprocessing Framework
Tool dialog
Command line
Model builder
Scripting (ArcObjects, Python, VB…)
The python geoprocessing object

4. Why Python?
Supported by ESRI
Simple, easy to learn and use
Robust
Extensible
Flexible

5. InVEST Installation process
InVEST: The Application
Get InVEST
Install the core InVEST application
InVEST statistics while that runs
Check installation
InVEST Marine Extensions

6. InVEST: The Application
InVEST is a framework for mapping Ecosystem Services and evaluating tradeoffs.
InVEST The Software consists of
A set of Python scripts dependent on ArcGIS
generally one per model biophysical and valuation module
Base datasets
Some required, some optional
Documentation

7. Where to get InVEST
InVEST is released as a Windows installer downloadable from our website

8. Alternative Download Options
We offer alternative downloads for InVEST users with slow Internet connections:
Full (296 MB)
Models Only (56.7 MB)
Individual datasets (variable sizes)

9. InVEST Installation Procedure
Copy InVEST_2.2.2_Full_Setup.exe to your desktop (or other location)
Double click the icon to start the installation process
By default the InVEST toolset will copy itself to C:\InVEST_2_2_2 and take 1.9 GB of disk space.
This is will take a few minutes.

10. Checking Your Installation
Open your file explorer and check for a directory in C:\InVEST_2_2_2

11. Checking Your Installation
In C:\InVEST_2_2_2 you’ll find an ArcMap document and an ArcToolbox
Open the ArcMap document and add the toolbox if necessary

12. You’ll End up With this

13. Complete Installation
Enable Spatial Analyst Extension
Install Marine Python Extensions
Non-English Language in Windows?
We might need to change the decimal symbol and digit grouping symbol.

14. Enable Spatial Analyst Extension
Most InVEST models require the Spatial Analyst Extension
Customize -> Extensions -> Spatial Analyst

15. InVEST Marine Extensions
Visit
Navigate to the download page
Download the “Marine Python Extensions” for your version of Arc (9.3 or 10).
Install each of the installers:
matplotlib
numpy
pywin32
Scipy

16. Check Marine Extensions
Run the “Marine Python Extension Check”

17. ArcGIS Licensing and ArcToolbox
Licensing – ArcView, ArcEditor, Arcmap, Spatial Analyst
ArcGIS Tools and Toolboxes

18. Loading toolbox (tbx)

19. Setting script source

20. Setting tool parameters1 2

21. Running model

22. Progress and error reporting
Custom errors

23. Windows Language Settings
Some InVEST models require that floating point values are separated by decimals.
A problem in some non-English languages
Windows 7 Users:
Go to Control Panel -> Clock, Language and Region
Under Region and Language choose "Change the date, time or number format“
Easiest thing to do: Set Format to English (United States)
OR: To just do commas and periods, click "Additional settings..." then change values in "Decimal symbol" to “.” and "Digit grouping symbol“ to “,”
Windows XP Users:
Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options
Easiest thing to do: Under the Regional Options tab, pick English (United States) from the drop-down
OR: To just do commas and periods, click "Customize..." then change values in "Decimal symbol" to “.” and "Digit grouping symbol“ to “,”

24. InVEST Versioning Scheme
2.2.2 is the major version number
An increment means change of platform or architecture
2.2.2 is the minor version number
This increments as new models are added to the suite
2.2.2 is the release number
This increments when bugs are fixed and released with no new functionality

25. Release “Schedule” InVEST 3.0 will be the big one in late 2012
Generally we release a new InVEST version every 3-5 months:
InVEST 1.005
7/13/2010
InVEST 2.1
5/13/2011
InVEST 2.2.0
12/22/2012
InVEST 1.001
12/16/2008
InVEST 1.002
4/17/2009
InVEST 1.003
8/10/2009
InVEST 2.0
2/16/2011
InVEST 1.004
3/12/2010
InVEST 2.1.3
10/17/2011
InVEST 2.2.1
1/22/2012
InVEST 1.0
10/13/2008
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
InVEST 3.0 will be the big one in late 2012

26. Folder/file/column naming:
No spaces
Use shorter names
Avoid special characters(eg hyphen)
Naming consistency.

27. ChangeLog

28. Projections
Data should be in meters
All data should have same projection
If possible, project the vector to match raster and not the other way round.

29. Software versions
ArcGIS 9.3, 10
Python 2.4, 2.5
Extensions
Spatial Analyst
Numpy
Scipy
(See specific models)

30. Data locking
ArcGIS and Python are separate
Close files before running model.

31. Resolution and file size
Set working resolution on tool interface
High resolution takes time to compute, demanding on computer resources
Set resolution based on the model.

32. Results suffix
Uniquely identifies each run
Restricted to 1 character
Parameter log file records input

33. User Support for InVEST
Online user’s guide, also included with the InVEST install.
Need additional support or file a bug report?
InVEST user listserv launched

34. Editing tables
Edit in ArcMap OR Excel*
Excel 2007 does not save dbf
ArcGIS 9.2 does not read xlsx
Use Open office.

35. Under the hood (advanced)

36. InVEST 3.0 Preview

37. Who Downloads InVEST?
We started tracking user analytics on October 23, Prior to that we had “about 2000” downloads.
InVEST (released 10/17/2011)
164 downloads
InVEST (released 12/22/2011)
889 downloads
InVEST (released 1/22/2012)
55 downloads

38. Who Downloads InVEST?
Breaking down InVEST downloads per country for those > 3%
Country
Percent of InVEST Downloads
United States
23.99%
China
22.61%
Brazil
4.27%
South Korea
4.04%
Mexico
3.69%
South Africa
3.34%